Space instrumentation

Abstract:

The loss of water from Mars to space is thought to result from the transport of water to the upper atmosphere, where it is dissociated to hydrogen and escapes the planet. Recent observations have suggested large, rapid seasonal intrusions of water into the upper atmosphere, boosting the hydrogen abundance. We use the Atmospheric Chemistry Suite on the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter to characterize the water distribution by altitude. Water profiles during the 2018–2019 southern spring and summer stormy seasons show that high-altitude water is preferentially supplied close to perihelion, and supersaturation occurs even when clouds are present. This implies that the potential for water to escape from Mars is higher than previously thought.

Abstract:

HARMONI is the first light visible and near-infrared (NIR) integral field spectrograph for the Extremely Large Telescope(ELT). The HARMONI spectrograph will have four near-infrared cameras and two visible, both with seven lenses of various materials and diameters ranging from 286 to 152 mm. The lens mounts design has been optimized for each lens material to compensate for thermal stresses and maintain lens alignment at the operational temperature of 130 K. We discuss their design and mounting concept, as well as assembly and verification steps. We show initial results from two prototypes and outline improvements in the mounting procedures to reach tighter lens alignments. To conclude, we present a description of our future work to measure the decentering of the lenses when cooled down and settled.

Abstract:

HARMONI is the first light visible and near-IR integral field spectrograph for the ELT. It covers a large spectral range from 450nm to 2450nm with resolving powers from R (≡λ/Δλ) 3500 to 18000 and spatial sampling from 60mas to 4mas. It can operate in two Adaptive Optics modes - SCAO (including a High Contrast capability) and LTAO - or with NOAO. The project is preparing for Final Design Reviews. The instrument uses a field splitter and image slicer to divide the field into 4 sub-units, each providing an input slit to one of four nearly identical spectrographs. This proceeding presents the final opto-mechanical design and the AIV plan of the spectrograph units.

Abstract:

Data created as part of spectral library and blind test programme in support of NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission to asteroid Bennu

Abstract:

CO VMR vertical profiles for the atmosphere of Mars derived from the mid infrared channel of the Atmospheric Chemistry Suite (ACS MIR) on the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) from the first thee months of science operations. Data archived in support of the manuscript titled The vertical structure of CO in the Martian atmosphere from the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter published in Nature Geoscience.